Method to form solder deposits on substrates

A method of forming a solder deposit on a substrate comprising the following steps:

• i) provide a substrate including a surface bearing electrical circuitry that includes at least one contact area,
• ii) form a solder mask layer that is placed on the substrate surface and patterned to expose the at least one contact area,
• ii a) form an additional resist layer on the solder mask layer,
• iii) contact the entire substrate area including the resist and solder mask layer and the at least one contact area with a solution suitable to provide a conductive layer on the substrate surface,
• iv) electroplate a solder deposit layer containing a tin or tin alloy onto the conductive layer,
• v) etch away an amount of the solder deposit layer containing tin or tin alloy and the conductive layer sufficient to remove both the solder deposit layer and the conductive layer from the resist layer area leaving a solder material layer on the at least one contact area,
• vi) remove the resist layer.